Time allowed to transfer a bike

[recom273]

I stopped riding over Covid and in Oct 2022, I sold my bikes, a versys and a CBR. A policeman wheeler dealer type from Udon snapped up both, I followed his instructions, I signed some transfer documents and gave him copies of all the relevant pages of my passport, as requested. Never even saw the guy, just his minions. I got them to sign a receipt and my home made declaration that the bike was no longer mine.

 

Fast forward to February 2025 - we have built a house in the same village and have moved, this morning, one of the same minions shows up at my new house, didn’t call, just appeared - he drove down yesterday and couldn’t find us. 

 

The police guy had just sold the Versys and couldn’t transfer the bike. He took all the papers to the DLT, apparently I had signed something wrong and also understandably, my visa stamp is for 2022. The minion didn’t have a clue what he was asking about, couldn’t read English, I had to explain why it was knocked back by the DLT.

 

I presume this is general practice amongst second hand dealers, to not transfer the bike to their name, but to sell the bike and paperwork and let the new owner do that. 
 

How long does (read, did) he legally have to transfer the bike? I was a little annoyed to have my morning coffee interrupted by some idiot who just gave me two blank forms - Im a little concerned as the bike has had my name on it for 3 years, who knows what it has been used for? Also, How long am I liable to provide documents? sure I can oblige all I can. My passport is being renewed in the UK, I didn’t take a copy of my current visa stamp before sending, I couldn’t help him with a copy of my visa stamp -  but I’m not going to bend over backwards for the guy, I sold the bike 3 years ago! The police guy has been riding it and now sold on. 
 

Anyone? 

 

[papa al]

4 hours ago, recom273 said:

 

How long does he legally have to transfer the bike? I

who knows what it has been used for?

, How long am I liable to provide documents?

 

no limit

riding

you are not

[recom273]

I think you are incorrect here. 
 

How about hen riding, was involved in an accident, and the police came knocking at my door. 

[Agusts]

Yes, it's a bit tricky, always have a contract of sale signed by both parties and a witness..., hopefully that's enough to prove bike is sold and no longer in your possession... 

 

Many people specially dealers don't transfer the bike, so a real hassle later. Specially foreigner's visa page expires and DLT won't accept it. Thais are okay... 

 

I went to DLT after selling my bike and asked them to check if bike is no longer in my name, fortunately it wasn't...! 

 

If no date on the forms you signed then they are okay, it's probably just visa page issue. Just tell him he has to wait until your passport is back, that's all is needed..., and sign any other form required later... (if have a Thai wife or friend, best to write bike details on the forms...). 

[papa al]

5 minutes ago, recom273 said:

 
 

How about hen riding, was involved in an accident, and the police came knocking at my door. 

a hen was involved in an accident

and the police came.?

tell me more

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, papa al said:

a hen was involved in an accident

and the police came.?

tell me more

It was a real cock-up

[recom273]

4 hours ago, Agusts said:

Yes, it's a bit tricky, always have a contract of sale signed by both parties and a witness..., hopefully that's enough to prove bike is sold and no longer in your possession... 

 

Many people specially dealers don't transfer the bike, so a real hassle later. Specially foreigner's visa page expires and DLT won't accept it. Thais are okay... 

 

I went to DLT after selling my bike and asked them to check if bike is no longer in my name, fortunately it wasn't...! 

 

If no date on the forms you signed then they are okay, it's probably just visa page issue. Just tell him he has to wait until your passport is back, that's all is needed..., and sign any other form required later... (if have a Thai wife or friend, best to write bike details on the forms...). 

thanks, yeah .. I gave the full story as a warning. If i had to do this again I would take the buyer to the dlt and get it out of my name.

 

I think 3 years is pushing it to return and start demanding photocopies at 8:00 am.

 

Im sure there is a time limit which I could have quoted to him.

[outsidetrader]

On 2/6/2025 at 9:56 AM, recom273 said:

I stopped riding over Covid and in Oct 2022, I sold my bikes, a versys and a CBR. A policeman wheeler dealer type from Udon snapped up both, I followed his instructions, I signed some transfer documents and gave him copies of all the relevant pages of my passport, as requested. Never even saw the guy, just his minions. I got them to sign a receipt and my home made declaration that the bike was no longer mine.

 

Fast forward to February 2025 - we have built a house in the same village and have moved, this morning, one of the same minions shows up at my new house, didn’t call, just appeared - he drove down yesterday and couldn’t find us. 

 

The police guy had just sold the Versys and couldn’t transfer the bike. He took all the papers to the DLT, apparently I had signed something wrong and also understandably, my visa stamp is for 2022. The minion didn’t have a clue what he was asking about, couldn’t read English, I had to explain why it was knocked back by the DLT.

 

I presume this is general practice amongst second hand dealers, to not transfer the bike to their name, but to sell the bike and paperwork and let the new owner do that. 
 

How long does (read, did) he legally have to transfer the bike? I was a little annoyed to have my morning coffee interrupted by some idiot who just gave me two blank forms - Im a little concerned as the bike has had my name on it for 3 years, who knows what it has been used for? Also, How long am I liable to provide documents? sure I can oblige all I can. My passport is being renewed in the UK, I didn’t take a copy of my current visa stamp before sending, I couldn’t help him with a copy of my visa stamp -  but I’m not going to bend over backwards for the guy, I sold the bike 3 years ago! The police guy has been riding it and now sold on. 
 

Anyone? 

 

Because as a foreighner without a WP you need to get a letter from immigration to buy and sell a,vehicle  and that expires after 1 month .

Need to sighn the book also.

This is very common 

[TheFishman1]

Happily I sold my bike a few weeks back and I went with the people to the department so they changed everything I didn’t wanna have somebody give me the money and then not change it over right away into their name I’m sure it happens all the time here TIT

[recom273]

4 hours ago, outsidetrader said:

Because as a foreighner without a WP you need to get a letter from immigration to buy and sell a,vehicle  and that expires after 1 month .

Need to sighn the book also.

This is very common 

 
Yes, this is not necessary in all DLT offices.
 

I have both bought bikes and sold bikes in various offices and the seller was never required to provide a certificate of residence, just copies of the passport and valid visa stamp, however, a certificate of residence was always necessary to register a bike in your name. This isn’t the case for all offices, for example, in Udon Thani, I gather it is necessary.
 

This wasn’t the question, but you would think the buyer would have noticed that the extension expired in 2022 and he was to change the name before that, what would have happened if we had left the country? Or hadn’t just moved around the corner.

[recom273]

3 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Happily I sold my bike a few weeks back and I went with the people to the department so they changed everything I didn’t wanna have somebody give me the money and then not change it over right away into their name I’m sure it happens all the time here TIT

Yes, this is the way - I was busy at the time building, so I had other things to think about. 
 

Some may not think it’s just being “ridden” but during my time here I have had a couple

of visits from the police who didn’t bother to do any homework. One Sunday evening we heard the gate of our town house being shook and pulled, the wife and I poked our heads up off the sofa to find a couple of police trying to get in - apparently there had been a report of domestic violence, somewhere, not in my house. It was comical, but I wouldn’t be happy if I found my old bike had been used to transport yabba and for the front door to come off its hinges at 5:00 am or something similar. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

5 hours ago, outsidetrader said:

Because as a foreighner without a WP you need to get a letter from immigration to buy and sell a,vehicle

A foreigner with a work permit has to also do the same. 

 

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

5 hours ago, TheFishman1 said:

Happily I sold my bike a few weeks back and I went with the people to the department so they changed everything I didn’t wanna have somebody give me the money and then not change it over right away into their name I’m sure it happens all the time here TIT

 

This is the way to do it.

 

Many years ago, I knew someone, a Thai, who sold his pickup and failed to go to the DLT with the new buyer to transfer the title.  

 

Months later, the RTP showed up at his door. The pickup, still registered in his name, had been used to transport illicit substances upcountry. 

 

He was able to convince the RTP that he had sold the pickup and wasn't involved in anything illegal, but I think he went through a difficult time while he was investigated.